Transcript Highlights:

• Those are not people who flowed out of state. The...
• So we got our first state funding.
• All over the state. All over the state. Yeah, yeah.
• , where we don’t have to send out to other states.
• But I don't think we're there yet as a state.

Summary: The hearing focused on California’s 988 suicide and crisis lifeline and the broader crisis response system, with members and witnesses emphasizing both the system’s life-saving role and the risks posed by funding gaps, rising demand, and uneven local implementation. Opening remarks highlighted the personal impact of suicide and the need to strengthen crisis response so calls are answered quickly and linked to appropriate care rather than defaulting to 911, emergency rooms, or law enforcement. State officials described the AB 988 five-year implementation plan, which sets goals around public awareness, equitable access, high-quality call/chat/text response, and better integration with ongoing behavioral health services. State agencies reported progress on infrastructure, coordination, and related behavioral health investments. CalHHS said California has expanded mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization units, and youth behavioral health supports, and is preparing additional public awareness and grant programs tied to Proposition 1. DHCS explained that 988 is funded through a federal SAMHSA grant and the AB 988 surcharge, while Medi-Cal separately funds mobile crisis services; officials said the mobile crisis benefit is active in 53 counties and that statewide expansion remains a work in progress. Cal OES described the statewide technical buildout, including network infrastructure in all 11 crisis centers, interoperability with 911, and a pilot of next-generation routing and call-handling tools. The 988 California Consortium said call volume continues to rise sharply, missed calls remain a major concern, text/chat capacity is limited, and centers need more stable funding, better reimbursement, and stronger feedback loops with the state. County and community witnesses stressed that local systems need more flexible, sustained support to match the demand. Lake County described a peer-led rural mobile crisis model that has reduced law enforcement holds and increased housing placements, but said county-run mobile crisis teams still cannot reliably access 988 surcharge dollars and face reimbursement problems from Medi-Cal and commercial plans. Santa Clara County reported strong performance metrics, rapid call answer times, and a broad continuum of mobile crisis services, but said staffing and funding are strained and commercial reimbursement remains slow. The Mental Health Association of San Francisco said the peer-run warm line complements 988 by offering non-emergency support and warm handoffs, but recent budget changes forced cuts to Spanish-language service, federation support, and hours. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the hearing; members mainly asked questions about surcharge levels, budget timing, coordination among agencies, data collection, and how to improve collaboration with frontline crisis centers.

Transcript Highlights:

• All other support and opposition can be stated at the standing mic when called upon to simply state name
• Zach Leary, on behalf of the Western States Petroleum Association.
• fuel is effectively out-competing in-state fuel.
• We have minimums in our state for those four particular crimes.
• We have minimums in our state for those four particular crimes.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard several bills, with most of the discussion focused on AB 2672 (Hart), which would require the California Energy Commission to set parameters for using an existing waiver process to allow non-CARBOB gasoline during fuel supply shocks, with fees used to offset emissions and help fund cleaner vehicles. Supporters said the bill would reduce gas price spikes and provide needed flexibility in emergencies; opponents, including the Western States Petroleum Association and union refinery representatives, argued it would function as a tax, create market uncertainty, and could undermine in-state refining and fuel-system compliance. Members raised concerns about affordability, refinery impacts, and delegation of authority to CARB/CEC, while the author said the bill was intended to be cost-neutral and protect consumers. The committee initially held the bill open and later advanced it on a divided vote. AB 2761 (Petrie-Norris) was heard next and would modernize California crash data reporting by creating a single statewide electronic system for fatal and injury crash reports. The author and AAA supported the measure, saying current paper-based reporting is slow, fragmented, and outdated, delaying safety improvements and federal funding opportunities. There was no registered opposition, and the bill moved forward unanimously to Appropriations. AB 1874 (Wilson) would prevent people convicted of certain serious driving offenses from serving a license suspension while incarcerated, so the suspension would begin when they are actually back on the road. Supporters, including law enforcement and roadway safety groups, said current practice makes suspensions meaningless and weakens accountability for dangerous drivers. Some members questioned whether the bill creates a double penalty, but the author argued the measure is limited to the most serious offenses and ensures the suspension has real public safety effect. The committee approved the bill on a strong vote. The committee also passed its consent calendar bills, and several measures were held open for later vote tallying before the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We see it in a lot of clean energy. Texas and Florida produce more clean energy than California.
• We are talking about green energy.
• two to three years... ...energy.
• And if the answer is we can’t do this in this state right now because of the way the state is, that’s
• Does it comply with state law?

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2026 draft business plan and next steps for the project. Chair Cortese opened by noting major changes since the 2024 plan, including new leadership, a bottoms-up review, scope changes in the Central Valley, loss of federal funds, and renewed interest in private investment and value capture. The Authority’s CEO, Ian Chaudhary, presented the project as moving into a construction and track-laying phase, citing progress on Central Valley structures, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocations, and a new procurement for track and systems. He said the plan reflects a more disciplined, optimized approach, with the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment targeted for revenue service around 2033 and the broader Phase 1 corridor envisioned as commercially viable through ancillary revenues, public-private partnerships, and future private financing. Committee members questioned the Authority about station relocations, single-tracking, tax increment financing, utility relocation authority, transparency, and the feasibility of private financing. Chaudhary said the Merced and Bakersfield station locations were still under discussion with local governments and that no contracts had been finalized. He defended the reduced scope and single-track approach as a just-in-time strategy to avoid overbuilding, while maintaining high-speed standards. He also said the Authority was exploring land value capture, broadband, energy, and other corridor-based revenue sources, but acknowledged that some tools would require legislative action and that private financing options were still being evaluated. Several senators expressed support for the project but raised concerns about permitting delays, local opposition, constitutional and statutory limits, and the need for stronger accountability. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the High-Speed Rail Inspector General then gave critical assessments of the draft plan. LAO staff said the plan assumes major statutory changes, understates risk, lacks transparency about scope changes, and may not fully fund even the smaller Merced-to-Bakersfield segment once borrowing costs and other uncertainties are considered. Inspector General Ben Belknap said the draft plan does not comply with newer statutory requirements in SB 198 and AB 377, citing three main deficiencies: unauthorized scope changes to the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment, an inadequate funding plan that omits financing costs, and missing procurement milestone dates. He said the Authority’s presentation obscures the true cost and schedule impacts of the project changes, and that incomplete reporting limits legislative oversight. The Authority responded that it would address the OIG’s findings in the final business plan, and committee members indicated they expected a written response on compliance issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ben is the out-of-state, which, again—” “...or that part of the discussion of Ben is the out-of-state
• I know that the committee has been hearing concerns about why should the state subsidize these out-of-state
• I know that the committee has been hearing concerns about why should the state subsidize these out-of-state
• What adults in the state, were they...
• But the online out-of-state is here.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Higher Education Funding Committee met to discuss possible changes to North Dakota’s higher education funding formula, with a particular focus on separating the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences MD program from the general formula. Dr. Jenkins outlined several options for the MD program, including a fixed-funding model, a hybrid model, or keeping it in the formula, and emphasized the need to preserve strong support for medical education while making future funding clearer. He also discussed efforts to increase the share of North Dakota students in the MD program through ND85, expanded recruiting, early acceptance pathways, MCAT prep, a four-plus-one program, and the Primary Care Accelerated Track, along with future cost pressures such as AI licensing and residency growth. The committee then reviewed a simplified funding model from the University System Office that would base funding more heavily on student FTE, credentials awarded, and a few incentive factors such as small institution and research adjustments. Members questioned the use of placeholder numbers, the lack of a clear methodology for the small institution and research factors, and whether the model would adequately account for differences among institutions, high-cost programs, and graduate education. Several members raised concerns that arbitrary factors would be hard to defend politically and could distort funding or create competition between schools, while others said the exercise was useful as a starting point for discussion. Alex presented a second alternative that kept the current SIP-code structure but increased CTE weighting, added a progressive economic size factor, and separated out the MD program. His model also added an on-campus face-to-face headcount component and a credentials component, with the intent of rewarding in-person enrollment and completions. Members questioned the use of headcount instead of FTE, how hybrid, online, dual-credit, and off-campus students would be treated, and why face-to-face enrollment was weighted more heavily than completion. No formal votes or final actions were taken; the committee instead continued discussion and asked members to provide direction on which elements, if any, should be developed further.

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands
• Communications and Reports from State Officers. Motions and Resolutions.
• Licensed in other jurisdictions to practice in this state. Read the last section.
• JURISDICTIONS TO PRACTICE IN THIS STATE. >> READ THE LAST SECTION.
• STATE.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation, then approved the prior day’s journal and proceeded to a lengthy third-reading calendar. Early business included several motions to discharge Assembly bills from committees and substitute identical Senate bills, along with a few bills laid aside for the day. The chamber also recalled two bills from the Assembly, restored one bill to the Third Reading Calendar after reconsideration, and received amendments on two other bills without changing their calendar status. The Senate then took up a large number of bills across topics including labor, energy, insurance, consumer protection, environmental conservation, health, banking, elections, public service, education, workers’ compensation, criminal justice, local government, and tax law. Most measures passed with broad support, though several drew recorded opposition. Notable debate included Senator Mayer’s explanation for a bill intended to prevent treatment-court participants, including veterans, from losing their driver’s licenses twice after completing diversion programs; Senator Ryan’s support for a bill expanding prosecutors’ ability to treat repeat sexual abuse as persistent abuse; and a sharp exchange on a bill repealing New York’s HIV/STI criminalization law, with Senators Borrello and Chan opposing it and Senator Salazar defending the repeal as necessary to reduce stigma and protect survivors. The chamber also adopted and recognized several resolutions and guest presentations. Members welcomed the Tri-Valley Secondary School girls cross country champions, Miss America Cassie Donagan and Miss New York Teen Nadia Anwar, and the Hudson High School varsity boys basketball team. Later, the Senate took up a resolution proclaiming May 2026 as Maternal Mental Health Month, with multiple senators speaking in support of greater awareness, reduced stigma, and improved care for pregnant and postpartum New Yorkers. At the end of the session, the sponsors opened the day’s resolutions for co-sponsorship, and the Senate adjourned until Monday, June 1 at 12 noon, with intervening days designated as legislative days.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 894 relates to private elementary and secondary schools, student codes of conduct, and policies
• HB 1041, which provides opportunities for education in our state prison system, had been amended in the
• regulation of contractors, solar installation companies, sale, lease, or power purchase of solar energy
• This report relates to concealed handgun permits and reciprocity with other states.
• This bill, Senate Bill 115, is the bill that requires that reciprocity be only recognized for states

Keywords: March 13, 2026 - Regular Session Part 2, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this measure States to building codes this measure States beginning<01:52:52.159><c> on</c><01:52:52.280
• 00.239><c> most</c> state P building code makes the most state P building code makes the most recent<
• codes</c> recent Hawaii state building codes recent Hawaii state building codes adopted<01:53:02.440
• ><c> Code</c> adopted by the State Building Code adopted by the State Building Code Council<01:53:03.880
• they</c> amend the State Building Code as they amend the State Building Code as they see<03:05:19.439

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard three House bills related to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. HB 606 would extend the Act 279 special fund to June 30, 2028, continue deposits and appropriations to help eliminate the DHHL waitlist, and require a strategic plan and annual reporting. DHHL strongly supported the measure, saying most of the initial $600 million had been used and that the need remains large, with more than 29,000 people on the waitlist. Public testimony also supported the bill, emphasizing its importance to Native Hawaiian families and concerns about Hawaiians leaving the islands because of housing costs. A member noted the bill is a priority and that the committee will keep working on how to fund another $600 million. HB 1086 would exempt DHHL homestead lot and housing development from general excise and use taxes. DHHL supported the bill, saying any tax savings would reduce the eventual cost of housing for low-income beneficiaries. The Department of Taxation said it could administer the measure and noted it is already being implemented under the governor’s emergency proclamation, with a proposed effective date of January 1, 2026. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered technical comments and urged the committee to weigh existing benefits already received by DHHL beneficiaries. HB 1307 would appropriate funds for DHHL water well development and geothermal exploration on Hawaiian homelands. DHHL said the bill is a follow-up to prior study funding and would support slim-hole drilling, site evaluation, and consultant work to identify viable geothermal resources, especially on Hawaiʻi Island. Several testifiers opposed the bill, arguing there had been inadequate beneficiary consultation, raising environmental, cultural, and safety concerns, and objecting to using $20 million for geothermal rather than housing. In response to committee questions, DHHL staff explained that the goal is to gather information for a future public-private partnership to develop geothermal electricity, and that a Chapter 343 environmental review would be required later in the process. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want to thank all the state departments that are here today and for their participation.
• All the state departments that are here today and for their participation in the various panels.
• And I think you said it was the state... Response to HR1.
• And are you aware of maybe how other states are responding, or you see a response from another state
• It's a state-level failure of protection.

Summary: The Select Committee on Older LGBTQ Californians held an inaugural hearing focused on the health care and support landscape for older LGBTQ Californians, including people aging with HIV and transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex seniors. Opening remarks emphasized the long history of discrimination faced by older LGBTQ adults, the growth of the aging LGBTQ population, and the need to translate existing state commitments into concrete services. Senators highlighted concerns about nursing home vulnerability, the aging of people living with HIV, and the impact of federal actions and Medicaid cuts on California’s safety net. The first panel featured Justice in Aging, CalHHS, the Department of Aging, and the Aging and HIV Institute. Testimony described widespread inequities, including discrimination, social isolation, economic insecurity, and gaps in culturally competent care. State officials outlined the Master Plan for Aging, the first statewide survey of LGBTQIA older adults, gender-affirming care protections in Medi-Cal, and efforts to improve coordination across departments. Advocates argued the state has been too slow to respond to federal threats and that services are often hard to find or fragmented. Committee members pressed the departments on how survey findings are being turned into action, how rural and underserved communities are being reached, and whether more formal stakeholder coordination or “no wrong door” access systems are needed. The second panel focused on seniors living with HIV. A long-term survivor gave emotional testimony about the “survivorship penalty,” loss of benefits, housing insecurity, and the need for legal and navigation support, housing assistance, and protection from outdated disability standards. The Department of Aging reported on implementation of SB 258, which added HIV status to the definition of greatest social need for area agencies on aging; it said 20 of 33 area plans now identify HIV as a target population and many include specific strategies, such as LGBTQIA mental health connections programs. The Office of AIDS described Project Cornerstone, Ryan White, ADAP, HOPWA, the Medi-Cal waiver, and PrEP-AP, noting these programs serve thousands of older clients and rely on whole-person case management. Case management testimony underscored persistent needs for medication subsidies, transportation, food, and housing. Committee members questioned how ADAP rebate funds might be used, how SB 258 is enforced across local agencies, and how to reduce administrative barriers and auto-connect eligible people to benefits. The final panel began with the Department of Social Services outlining protections for TGI seniors in licensed care facilities, including SB 219’s nondiscrimination requirements and related provider notices and resident rights materials. The hearing remained focused on identifying service gaps, improving coordination across aging, health, and social service systems, and ensuring state programs better reflect the lived experience of older LGBTQ Californians.

Transcript Highlights:

• Washington State, the one I really want to... to point out is Oklahoma.
• against state law.
• I travel the state, talk to vets all over the state.
• within our state. state.
• banned them for all the students in our state. state.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I do have to run back to exec committee and energy.
• </c><00:04:42.120><c> we're</c> back to exec committee and energy we're back to exec committee and energy
• </c> the committee um Secretary of State the committee um Secretary of State David<00:33:45.440><c> scandin
• <00:44:06.200><c> primary</c> state primary state primary election<00:44:08.160><c> so</c><00:44:08.640
• </c> oppose SB 222 uh our secretary state oppose SB 222 uh our secretary state basically<00:46:13.960

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the State Civic, Military, party.
• We're looking at energy transitions as opposed to energy additions based on what works for all of our
• We're looking<00:35:11.280><c> at</c><00:35:11.680><c> energy</c> looking at energy looking at energy
• So for that reason I will be a no vote. energy. Um it has we've seen the energy.
• </c> my people help build this state. my people help build this state.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I do need you to state your name.
• They had a valid CDL, yes, ma'am, from another state. From another state. Yes.
• Obviously, our state patrol is not going to set up a roadblock at the state line.
• Obviously, our state patrol is not going to set up a roadblock at the state line.
• Minnesota, California, Washington State, Kentucky—there's a lot of states that have had a lot more open

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SO WE WORK THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
• I DO HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS THROUGH THE STATE.
• >> FOR THE MOST PART LIVE LOCAL IS A STATE ALONE.
• STATES USE FUNDS TO ADMINISTER STATE AND FEDERAL HOUSING PROGRAMS.
• WE REVIEWED STATE LAWS ENACTED FROM 2019 THROUGH 2023. THE ISSUES ADDRESSED BY STATE LAWS VARY.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With the State Board, we have an annual report that we're required to submit to the State Board, and
• in the state of Idaho.
• We were founded originally as Lewiston State... ...in the state of Idaho.
• We're a different animal than our sisters: Boise State, Idaho State, their research too.
• State University.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That will bankrupt this state. And 2030. That will bankrupt this state.
• I am a state senator.
• I am a state senator. County senator. I am a state senator.
• I am a state senator.
• Energy cheap, it's lot of energy.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know about other states, but I know in the state of Florida we require 10 days to turn in a voter
• Representative Joseph continued: “The street, city, state, and ZIP code in that order, which is the way
• Of the state of Florida, adopt this amendment, and let's make sure that the people of the state of Florida
• House Bill 259 recognizes August 21st as a state day of observance and education on... ...as a state
• and the standards that are set in other states because our students don't just stay in the state of

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for Deputy Will May of the Walton County Sheriff’s Department, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum established. The Rules and Ethics Committee report setting the special order calendar was adopted, and CS for HB 947 was recommitted to the Judiciary Committee. The chamber then took up several special-order bills, mostly reviser and technical measures, including SB 36, SB 42, SB 40, and SB 38, all of which passed unanimously or near-unanimously after brief explanations that they updated or cleaned up Florida statutes. Members also passed HB 513 on electronic transmittal of court orders, requiring clerks to send certain petitions, notices, summonses, and orders within six hours, including Baker Act, Marchman Act, and risk protection orders. HB 615, on electronic delivery of landlord-tenant notices by email when both parties agree in writing, passed after adoption of a tenant-protection amendment offered by Rep. Gottlieb. HB 655 establishing a regulatory framework for pet insurance and wellness programs passed unanimously. HB 1145 on workforce education passed 100-4, expanding CAP grant eligibility to public charter schools for CTE startup/expansion and increasing minimum program offerings tied to a money-back guarantee program. HB 299 on elevator accessibility requirements passed unanimously, and HB 649 on autonomous practice by certified registered nurse anesthetists passed 77-30 after structured debate. The most extensive debate centered on CS for HB 1205, which would significantly revise Florida’s citizen initiative process. The bill would require a $1 million bond after 25% of required signatures are collected, require petition handlers and circulators to be Florida residents and U.S. citizens, impose background checks and training for paid circulators, shorten petition turn-in deadlines to 10 days, increase penalties, add signature revocation notices, require more identifying information on petition forms, and create felony penalties for certain misconduct. Supporters argued the changes were needed to combat fraud and protect petition integrity; opponents said the bill would burden First Amendment activity and make ballot initiatives harder for ordinary Floridians to pursue. Multiple amendments sought to roll back or soften the bill’s requirements, protect personal information, restore longer deadlines, lower validation thresholds, and bar public funds from being used to advocate for or against amendments. Some amendments were adopted, but several key ones failed as debate continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have our energy sector versus some of those other states.
• </c> states uh focusing on energy states uh focusing on energy infrastructure infrastructure infrastructure
• </c><00:28:00.320><c> Um,</c> energy producing states versus not.
• Um, energy producing states versus not.
• </c> the energy dominance fund, it states the energy dominance fund, it states that<00:28:58.320><c>

Committee: Joint Minerals, Business & Economic Development

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not in a state decided by your zip code. Not in a state like<00:30:06.880><c> Minnesota.
• </c> States for all states and territories. States for all states and territories.
• Um how much state to the state grant.
• c> grant</c><01:10:03.120><c> funds</c> Total state grant state grant funds Total state grant state grant
• </c> across the entire state. across the entire state.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's throughout the state.
• President Trump has stated this on multiple occasions.
• making his election security E.O.s Florida state law.
• making his election security E.O.s Florida state law.
• making his election security EO's Florida state law.

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and took up Senate Bill 62 by Senator Errington, which would create an enforceable requirement that partisan candidates meet the 365-day party affiliation or no-party registration requirement before qualifying. The committee adopted an amendment changing the effective date to upon becoming law, heard no opposition, and then approved the bill. The committee also approved a slate of 15 gubernatorial nominees en bloc and recommended them to the floor. The Florida Supervisors of Elections presented their 2026 legislative priorities. Their requests included automatically updating voter records when DHSMV changes driver license numbers, treating verified petition signing by inactive voters as voter activity that restores active status, adding election equipment and ballots to the state’s critical infrastructure protections, clarifying public-records treatment of election worker names and addresses, allowing more flexibility for early voting sites when a supervisor’s office is not suitable, eliminating the need for provisional-ballot envelopes when polling hours are extended by emergency order, and allowing vote-by-mail voters to remain on the list for the next general election unless they opt out. Senators asked questions about inactive voter status, security implications, early voting site requirements, and vote-by-mail renewal, and several members expressed support or interest in the supervisors’ proposals. During public testimony, several speakers urged stronger election-integrity measures, including proof of citizenship, tighter chain-of-custody controls, more hand-counting or manual audits, quarterly list maintenance, and reduced reliance on vote-by-mail and voting machines. They also criticized current audit systems and cited outside reports and research they said showed vulnerabilities in Florida’s election process. No additional committee action was taken after public testimony, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1035, an act appropriating money to the State Department of Corrections.
• The sponsor will say it's about billing codes, but I don't believe it.
• It plainly states a violation. criminal violations.
• It plainly states a violation of state or local law.
• It happened in Washington, D.C. Yeah. But it didn't happen here. It happened in Washington, D.C.

Keywords: 1182, all